Starting from the inner circle, the first layer of the circle is called olfactive family, which is a broad term to categorize fragrances that are related but not the same. The second layer is called olfactive subfamily, which represents fragrances that are very similar and have small nuances between them. The third layer is the fragrance ingredient name, which does not always correspond to its origin or placement in the fragrance wheel. For example, aldehyde C14 (peach), C16 (strawberry), and C18 (coconut) are fruity notes and are absolutely different from the family Aldehydic (metallic, fresh). The names reveal little information about their smell. The fourth layer is a description of the smell. This is my own interpretation of the smell and can vary (very!) from person to person. The fifth layer are the notes: top-, heart, or base notes. They reveal information about the volatility of smells. Even in families and subfamilies, scents can range from top to base notes. The sixth layer reveals information about the composition: whether they are natural, synthetic, or compositions.

If you would like to try the exercise of blind-smelling, please follow the instructions below:

First, you take a blotter (fragrance test strip). You then take a vial from your box. You can dip the blotter in the fragrance. Preferably, wait a couple of seconds before smelling to let it mellow down a bit. Take your time smelling the fragrance ingredient. It is irrelevant to look at the name on the label. Try to use descriptive words that resonate with this experience (borrow words from other senses like a texture, a colour or a shape).